Music world mourns Craig

LAID to rest . . . Craig Gill's funeral yesterday

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IT WAS standing room only inside and outside Hollinwood Crematorium as the music world said farewell to Inspiral Carpets drummer Craig Gill.

Hundreds turned up to pay their respects to Chadderton-raised Gill, who was just 44 when he passed away at his Greenfield home on November 20.

The four remaining Inspirals ­- Graham Lambert, Clint Boon, Martyn Walsh and Steve Holt ­- were all in attendance alongside many of Manchester's famous names and faces from the music scene, some of whom had travelled from as far afield as America, Australia and Argentina.

Radio DJ and close friend Mike Sweeney hosted a service at the crematorium, before a celebration of Gill's life followed in the evening at Salford Lads Club.

Gill leaves a wife, Rose, and three children ­- Georgia, Orla and Levon. Gill joined the band when he was just 14, and had been a member for the past 30 years with hits including "This Is How It Feels", "Saturn 5" and "She Comes In The Fall".

His death shocked the music world with thousands of tributes paid. The musician was also well known after setting up Manchester Music Tours, which took visitors around important musical sites in the city.

An inquest into Gill's death was opened at Rochdale Coroner's Court on Friday.

It heard how he was found at home in an "unresponsive" state by his wife before he was taken to the Royal Oldham Hospital where he died.

Police attended the home and found no suspicious circumstances surrounding Gill's death.

The inquest was adjourned until May 5, next year.